Nicolas Thebaud's research focused on tectonic processes, their petrological and geochemical impacts, and their control on the formation of ore deposits. During his Ph.D (2002-2006), Thebaud's conducted competitive and interdisciplinary research, combining hard-rock field geology, structural geology, and petrography with cutting edge analytical techniques including high-resolution synchrotron microfluorescence X techniques for the analysis of single fluid inclusions. He applied this multidisciplinary approach to characterised and model the geometry and hydrodynamics of a Mesoarchean plumbing system in the Pilbara, to constrain the scale and magnitude of fluid circulations, their relationships with Archaean crustal geodynamics and their impact on the formation of ore deposits. From 2006 to late 2007 Thebaud spent 18 months expanding his skills and experience in mineral exploration as a structural geologist for Mercator Gold Australia. In October 2007 Thebaud became Research Fellow within the Centre for Exploration Targeting, School for the Earth and Environment, the University of Western Australia. He has, since then focus his work on the tectonostratigraphic reconstructions of key 2.7 and 2.9 Ga nickel and Au systems in the Yilgarn Craton using a GIS integrated geological, (U-Pb SHRIMP geochronology and Hf-isotopic geochemistry) and geophysical approach combined with 3D and 4D digital modelling.